I ended up purchasing the Stack-On PDS-500 Drawer Safe with Electronic Lock and picked up at Walmart (ship to store for free to also maintain warranty and return it easier if necessary). I have it propped upside down, on the side next to my bed, so that when I put the combo in, the lid will be able to fall down easier with gravity.

The buttons do feel a little “mushy” and it’s hard to tell if they pressed correctly or not with the audible beeps turned off. A yellow light blinks every time you push the button down, but with it upside down and on the ground, it’s very hard to see.

I’d say, I’m very happy for the $40 I spent on it as a starter safe. I’ll know more as time goes on.

Just mount it vertical, upside down, and the door should plop open with gravity. The batteries won’t be an issue since I ultimately plan on opening it daily so I’ll be able to tell the battery life that way.

It’s my first starter gun and the price is so minimal, even if I don’t use it for a gun, I’m sure I could think of other uses as my 3 babies grow and I need to secure additional items away from their curious hands.

Thanks everyone for your links on other manufacturer’s and options. It really gave me multiple things to think about. Perhaps in the future, I’ll find it prudent to invest in something more expensive.

ORIGINAL MESSAGE (10-30-2013)
I have small children in the house, and I want to have a handgun CONTAINER within arms reach of my bedside that can also be opened easily should I need to retrieve it quickly. I’m guessing biometric, or a quick punch code combo. Theft is not the concern. Just keeping my kids from touching the gun and sending me to jail.

I was looking at the Gunvault SpeedVault SV500 as an option, but I don’t know if it’s DOJ CA compliant [EDIT: It IS DOJ Compliant: http://www.gunvault.com/sv500.html. Any other popular options out there?

I know there’s the option of taking it out of one of my other gun safes and putting it bedside, but that’ll also require me to remember 100% to put it back every morning, which I don’t want to rely on.